Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · Card Sorting Software

OptimalSort vs Decode

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score OptimalSort #1 in Card Sorting Software 8.9/10 7-day trial Free trial✓ 4 of 4 features Visit OptimalSort
Decode #2 in Card Sorting Software 8.8/10 Free plan · pricing on request Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Decode

OptimalSort leads on 0 checks, Decode on 1, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreOptimalSort · 8.9/10
  • Free planonly Decode
  • Free trialonly OptimalSort

OptimalSort scores higher on our rubric for card sorting software: 8.9 against 8.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #2.

Decode offers free plan; OptimalSort doesn't.

OptimalSort is the better fit for professional card-sorting and information-architecture teams. Decode is the better fit for teams needing advanced card sorts plus broader research.

  • OptimalSort fits best

    Professional card-sorting and information-architecture teams

  • Decode fits best

    Teams needing advanced card sorts plus broader research

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature OptimalSort 8.9/10 Visit ↗ Decode 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.9 8.8
Ranking #1 in Card Sorting Software #2 in Card Sorting Software
Best for Professional card-sorting and information-architecture teams Teams needing advanced card sorts plus broader research
Pricing model Paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $199/mo —
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial 7 days —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Support Email, Docs Email, Live chat, Community, Docs · 24/7
Compliance SOC 2, GDPR, SSO/SAML SOC 2, GDPR, SSO/SAML, 2FA
Integrations 6 integrations 14 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features OptimalSort 4/4 · Decode 4/4
Open card sorts ✓ ✓
Closed card sorts ✓ ✓
Hybrid card sorts ✓ ✓
Remote participant mode ✓ ✓
Specs
Participant limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Card limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Analysis features Advanced Advanced
Our review
Pros
  • Supports open, closed and hybrid card-sorting studies
  • Provides dendrogram, PCA, similarity-matrix and 3D-cluster analyses
  • Includes Figma, Google, Okta, OneLogin, SAML 2.0 and API integrations
  • Open, closed and hybrid studies with detailed agreement analysis
  • Recruit participants through links and integrated audience panels
  • Free tier plus broad research, meeting and workflow integrations
Cons
  • Starter limits launches to five studies per year
  • Web-only deployment excludes native desktop and mobile applications
  • No free plan; paid access starts at $199/month billed annually
  • Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales
  • Decode Live is not supported on mobile or tablet web
  • Broader modules may exceed the needs of teams wanting only card sorting
Our verdict

OptimalSort is an online card-sorting tool for UX, product, content and research teams working on information architecture. Researchers can add cards or import them from a spreadsheet, invite participants through links or recruitment…

Read the review →

Decode by Entropik is a cloud-based human insights and user-research platform for research, product, UX and marketing teams. Its User Research module supports open, closed and hybrid card sorts, with participant-created or predefined…

Read the review →
  1. OptimalSortCard Sorting Software 8.97-day trial
  2. DecodeCard Sorting Software 8.8Free plan · pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • OptimalSort — where it wins

    • Supports open, closed and hybrid card-sorting studies
    • Provides dendrogram, PCA, similarity-matrix and 3D-cluster analyses
    • Includes Figma, Google, Okta, OneLogin, SAML 2.0 and API integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Starter limits launches to five studies per year
    • Web-only deployment excludes native desktop and mobile applications
    • No free plan; paid access starts at $199/month billed annually

  • Decode — where it wins

    • Open, closed and hybrid studies with detailed agreement analysis
    • Recruit participants through links and integrated audience panels
    • Free tier plus broad research, meeting and workflow integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales
    • Decode Live is not supported on mobile or tablet web
    • Broader modules may exceed the needs of teams wanting only card sorting
  • OptimalSort8.9/10 · 7-day trial

    A purpose-built card-sorting workspace with advanced analysis and a paid, web-only model.

    Visit OptimalSortFull verdict →
  • Decode8.8/10 · Free plan · pricing on request

    Advanced card sorting with recruitment, analysis and wider user-research tools.

    Visit DecodeFull verdict →

More comparisons

All card sorting software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update